MIRI (April 26): Miri City Council (MCC) is encouraging more sports and cultural events to be organised in the city as a way to attract more foreign tourists and visitors from neighbouring Brunei. In this respect, mayor Adam Yii said a dialogue had been held between several agencies including Tourism Malaysia on April 11 to discuss outstanding issues and effective ways to boost tourism-related activities as attractions. “With that being said, we have identified several events that potentially can attract many tourists coming here, such as sporting events. Marathon and other sports event are, in fact, quite popular among Bruneians, thus this would be the area that we can look into,” he told a press conference after MCC’s full council meeting at Miri City Hall yesterday. The next big event that will be coming up, he mentioned, would be the Miri City Day, to celebrate the 18th year of Miri’s elevation to city status on May 20. “In Western culture, 18th year is a significant year of becoming an adult. MCC has come up with the decision to internationalise Miri City Day, by inviting cities that are friendly with Miri City, to come celebrate the special occasion with us. “The cities are in Canada, Philippines, South Korea and cities in China. At the moment, those are prospective, we will continue to update prior to the celebration,” said Yii. Other issues that were discussed at the dialogue held between MCC; Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Centre (CIQ) in Sungai Tujoh; Immigration Department; Tourism Malaysia; and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living were the improvement of CIQ Sungai Tujoh checkpoint’s efficiency, tourists’ safety when in Miri, and profiteering. “We have discussed on ways to simplify the procedure and suggestion to increase the operating capacity at these checkpoints to allow smooth entry of tourists into the country. After all, the immigration checkpoint is the first impression of tourists of a country,” said Yii. He added that the city council was ready to work with the police to improve Miri City’s safety, to allow tourists to feel safe when travelling here. As for profiteering, Yii felt that the matter was not common and did not happen frequently, as Malaysian retailers have good practice of displaying price of items. “We have also given some suggestions to hoteliers to up their game so that the standard of their services and facility are up to expectations,” he added.

MIRI (April 26): The federal government should immediately review the application requirements for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme to attract more foreigners to participate in the programme, said Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang. The Pujut assemblyman and Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) central publicity and Information secretary explained that MM2H is beneficial to economic development because by attracting foreign talents and elites to settle in Malaysia, it can drive the development of various aspects, such as education, skills and tourism. “By getting more foreigners settle in Malaysia, they may send their children to study in local institutions, which will help promote the development of the domestic education industry, enhance the education system by attracting students and teachers, and continuously improve academic level. “Participating in the (Malaysia My) Second Home Programme can also attract elites from different industries to bring knowledge and skills in different fields to Malaysia, promoting the exchange of knowledge and skills in various fields and stimulating social and economic development,” he said in a press statement. Yii added that when these foreigners live in Malaysia for a period of time and with a deeper understanding of Malaysian culture and customs, they may strongly recommend their families and friends to visit Malaysia, which is beneficial to the development of the tourism industry. Yii disclosed that MCC had in fact, in 2021, established a task force to promote Miri as the flagship city of the Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home Programme (S-MM2H), adding that the special task force has actively cooperated with the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Singapore Office (Statos) to promote Miri as the preferred city for S-MM2H. “In recent years, the Miri City Council (MCC) has actively established sister city relationships with some foreign cities, and there are still several cities under negotiation. Through these efforts, it has also increased the channels for promoting Miri as the ideal second home destination.

Mayor Adam Yii (seated centre) flanked by his deputy Julaihi Mohamad (on Yii’s leff) and the Council secretary Abdul Rahman Taupek (on Yii right) with the councillors after the full council meeting yesterday. MIRI: Miri City Council was given five-star rating positioned at 43 scoring 94.58 points (out of maximum of 100 points) at rank number two in Sarawak in connection with the assessment conducted by Federal Ministry of Local Government and Housing Malaysia in year 2022. Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang said, from the recent result released by the aforesaid Ministry, Padawan Municipal Council from Sarawak also secured 5-star rating positioning at no. 31 for having scored 95.69 points making it the top Council amongst all the Local Authorities in Sarawak. “Currently, there are 153 local authorities in Malaysia of which 19 are City councils, 42 Municipal councils, and 92 District councils,” Yii said yesterday during the Council meeting. He also congratulated the senior management personnel and all staff for the achievement and encouraged everyone to continue working even harder so as to attain even higher and commendable status.

THE ORIGINAL CONTENT OF THE NEWS IN UTUSAN BORNEO IS IN MALAY MIRI: Hari Bandar Raya Miri Ke-18 tahun ini diraikan dalam acara bertaraf antarabangsa selepas Majlis Bandaraya Miri (MBM) memutuskan menjemput bandar-bandar 'rakan mesra' bandar raya Miri dari luar negara hadir meraikan sambutan tersebut.  Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Pujut yang juga Datuk Bandar MBM Adam Yii berkata, usaha itu juga merupakan salah satu strategi mereka mempromosikan Miri di peta pelancongan antarabangsa.  “Dalam budaya Barat, usia ke-18 adalah tahun penting menjadi dewasa.  “Maka MBM telah membuat keputusan mengantarabangsakan Hari Bandar Raya Miri dengan menjemput bandar-bandar mesra dengan bandar raya Miri datang meraikan majlis istimewa itu. “Bandar-bandar mesra ialah Kanada, Filipina, Korea Selatan dan bandar-bandar utama lain di China.  “Pada masa ini, ia adalah prospektif kami terus mengemas kini acara menjelang perayaan itu,” katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat majlis penuh MBM di sini hari ini. Sehubungan itu, MBM menggalakkan lebih banyak acara sukan dan kebudayaan diadakan di bandar raya ini sebagai satu cara untuk menarik lebih ramai pelancong asing dan dari negara jiran, Brunei datang ke Miri.  Yii berkata, dialog diadakan antara beberapa agensi termasuk Tourism Malaysia membincang dan mencadangkan beberapa kaedah menarik pelancong datang ke Miri antaranya ialah menganjurkan lebih banyak acara tarikan pelancong. “Menerusi cadangan ini, kami mengenal pasti beberapa acara berpotensi menarik ramai pelancong datang ke sini.  “Antaranya, maraton dan acara sukan lain sebenarnya agak popular dalam kalangan rakyat Brunei, jadi ini adalah perkara yang boleh kita lihat,” katanya. Isu-isu lain dibincangkan dalam dialog MBM dengan Pusat Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ) di Sungai Tujoh, Jabatan Imigresen, Pelancongan Malaysia dan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup adalah meningkatkan kecekapan pusat pemeriksaan CIQ Sungai Tujoh, keselamatan pelancong ketika melakukan perjalanan di Miri dan isu pencatutan. “Kami membincangkan cara memudahkan prosedur dan cadangan meningkatkan kapasiti operasi di pusat pemeriksaan ini bagi membolehkan kemasukan pelancong ke negara ini lancar.  “Lagipun, pusat pemeriksaan imigresen adalah kesan pertama pelancong sesebuah negara,” jelasnya. Menurutnya, MBM juga sedia bekerjasama dengan polis dalam meningkatkan keselamatan bandar raya Miri bagi membolehkan pelancong berasa selamat ketika melakukan perjalanan ke sini. Bagi isu pencatutan, Yii berpendapat perkara itu bukan perkara biasa dan tidak kerap berlaku kerana peruncit Malaysia mempunyai amalan baik memaparkan harga bagi memaklumkan harga barangan kepada pengguna. "Kami juga memberi beberapa cadangan kepada pengusaha hotel untuk meningkatkan acara mereka supaya standard perkhidmatan dan kemudahan mereka dapat mencapai jangkaan," katanya.

From third left: Ting, Yii, Dr Sim, Lee, Penguang and others in a group photo with the new MCC councillors for 2023-2025 term at MCC building on April 2, 2023. MIRI, April 2: Miri City Council (MCC) Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang’s term has been extended to lead 32 councillors effective yesterday (April 1) to March 31, 2025. The new MCC office bearers took their oaths during a swearing-in ceremony held at MCC Hall in Marina here today. For the new term, Arriffin Mohamad has been appointed as the new deputy mayor, replacing Julaihi Mohamad who had served the city council for 15 years. Meanwhile, of the 32 councillors, 12 are first-time councillors. They are Yeo Zhi Chao, Jenny Crystal Mansang, Yu Ley Ha, Raymond Jenang, Saliha Basri, Chia Kah Leong, Jamil Bujang, Kamarudin Reduan, Huang Hong Siong, Rahim Unsang, Ugat Wan@Jalong Wan and Flora Usun Lanyau. The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Premier of Sarawak Dato Sri Sim Kui Hian who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government. Also present were Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil; and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew. Yii in his speech said there is no honeymoon period and the elected councillors have to prepare themselves to encounter many and tough challenges ahead in light of their commitments and responsibilities under the ongoing Miri City Council Strategic Plan 2021-2025 formulated under the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP). He also mentioned the five key focus areas under the MCC Strategic Plan namely application of digital technology under Miri Smart City Programme; sustainable development on protecting the natural environment and human community; city cleanliness and Waste management; safe and secure environment and community under the Council’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); and tourism promotion with emphasis on Sarawak cultures, festivals and developing new places of interest and tourism products. “Within the administration of MCC, I am glad to see the constant presence of tolerance, accommodation of others’ ideas and cordial working relationship among each other as well as among the components in the council that is the full council – the policy and decision maker, the administration comprising council departments and sections as well as the MCC staff,” Yii stated. He also expressed confidence that the team can continue or perform better to discharge their duties with utmost dedication for the betterment of Miri City and the communities. – DayakDaily